The Best Credit Cards for Students (2018)

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Student credit cards are a great way to begin building credit history and start off on the right financial path. Wise credit use can establish a good credit score early that will help you get a job, rent an apartment, and get good rates on insurance.

But with so many to choose from, how do you begin your search for the best student credit card?

Here are some tips to make your search a little easier, along with some recommendations on credit card plans designed specifically with students in mind.

Qualifying

A few years ago, it was common for students graduating from high school to receive dozens of credit card offers in the mail.

That all changed when the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act passed by Congress in 2009. This law says anyone applying for a credit card must demonstrate they have the means to pay back any debts they incur — this means showing you have a job and that your expenses don’t exceed your income.

Some cards allow for a co-signer who will help a student to qualify. However, if you have the means, try to get one in your name alone.

Look for a Low Interest Rate

The interest rate for a first-time cardholder can be pretty hefty. Some cards charge as much as 25% for students. Fortunately, there are other cards with much lower APRs. This may not mean a lot to someone who is just learning about interest charges, so let’s use a real money example.

Let’s say you charge $250 on your card and take six months to pay it back. On a card with a 12% interest rate, you’ll pay around $9 extra over that period, but a card with a 25% rate will cost you more than $22 in interest.

Keep in mind it can add up to even more if you delay paying it back for longer.

Be sure to check out our extensive collection of low APR credit cards to find the best rates currently available.

Earn Rewards for Good Grades

Most credit cards offered to students come with some type of reward plan. This can take the form of cash back rewards for things like gas, food or other necessities.

Other rewards include on-time payment bonuses, cash certificates for use at retail stores, and discounts if you use your card for certain types of purchases. Additionally, many student cards reward good grades these days — generally considered a GPA of 3.0 or higher — with cash back bonuses. The cash back earned can be redeemed for statement credit, helping you to pay your balance faster, or spent in the issuer’s online rewards portal.

Just be careful not to focus more attention on the rewards than the money you’re spending. After all, you have to pay that money back — with interest.

Avoid the Annual Fee

There are so many cards out there for students that you shouldn’t even consider one that comes with an annual fee. Many card issuers hope first-time credit card holders will assume annual fees are a standard part of the process — this is not so.

There are far more cards out there with no annual fee than there are cards that charge one, so don’t fall for it.

Top 3 Student Credit Card Recommendations:

Below are some of our expert’s favorite cards for students, all with no annual fee and nice rewards programs.

Discover now offers free FICO credit scores to its members, which is a nice way for students to track their credit. The issuer is also forgiving on late payments, offering no APR change for paying a little late — another attractive feature for young adults new to managing their finances. This card has particularly generous cash back rewards, especially in quarterly rotating categories.

Discover it® for Students

Get a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.

Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants or Amazon.com up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate. Plus, 1% unlimited cash back automatically on all other purchases.

Good Grades Rewards: $20 cash back each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next 5 years.

No annual fee. No late fee on first late payment. No APR change for paying late.

Get 100% U.S. based customer service & get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score, number of recent inquiries and more.

Another Discover card, the issuer’s student cards offer bonuses for good grades, free FICO scores, no penalty for paying late, no annual fee, and cash back rewards. This card is a winning offer for anyone in school.

Make your first five payments on time and earn access to a higher credit limit — all with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.

Photo source: swaphr.com

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Editorial Note: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information, however all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on an offer you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your offer.

Advertiser Disclosure: CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own, and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.